For Women's History Month allow me to introduce you to Rose Rios, selected as this year’s Ninth District Pioneer Woman.

Rose is a proud Afro-Cuban American, and the Founder and CEO of Cover the Homeless Ministry, a nonprofit dedicated to aid the City’s homeless population. Her organization helps provide everything from meals, to clean clothing, hygiene products and a safe place to sleep.

Rose was born in Lexington Mississippi to sharecroppers and was one of nine children living in a one bedroom home. Her family moved to California in 1951 where her lifelong community service started. Following her parents example, Rose dedicated herself to giving back to the community.  

Rose is a tireless volunteer, who has dedicated her life to humanitarian efforts from fostering children to caring for the elderly. Today, she also makes time to be on the Board of the South Central Family Health Center and continues to be dedicated to those in need.

Women like Rose drive change in their community and inspire hope for the future. To women, everywhere. ¡Que vivan las mujeres! 

All my best,

Speaking in front of a crowd of nearly 200 residents, Councilman Curren Price announced Thursday the expansion of critical services for older adults at the Estelle Van Meter Multipurpose Senior Center grand re-opening and ribbon cutting.

Councilman Price recently secured a historic, annual budget allocation of nearly half a million dollars for the center, allowing older adults in the community to benefit from a variety of free services, including:

• Transportation
• Hot lunch and groceries
• Classes and recreational activities
• Legal assistance
• In-home support services

“Today, more than half a million people age 60 years old and older live in the City of Los Angeles,” said Councilman Price. “I’m deeply committed to honoring our older adult population and making South LA a more vibrant community for all ages.”

The Estelle Van Meter Multipurpose Senior Center will also provide CalFresh and Medicare enrollment on-site. As a result of the budget allocation, the center will offer free transportation for local seniors to get to doctor appointments or go grocery shopping, among other things.

"I'm excited for the computer classes, Spanish-language classes, health classes and memory classes, which I need!" said Betty Clemons, a longtime CD 9 resident who attended the celebration. 

The multipurpose center, at 7600 S. Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles 90003, was originally founded 35 years ago by South Los Angeles activist Estelle Van Meter. For more information on the free programming and services available, call Councilman Price’s Constituent Service Center at (323) 846-2651.

As of March 2018, Councilman Curren Price had committed to building 295 new units of permanent supportive housing in the 9th District. Half of those units are scheduled to be completed by 2020.

Earlier this week, Councilman Price was joined by dozens of community members in front of Casa de Rosas—a dilapidated, century-old home on the federal registry of historic places that is currently undergoing repairs to provide future housing for homeless veterans.

"This is only a snapshot of what we’re doing in the 9th District to lift families, veterans and foster youth living on our streets,” Councilman Price said. “I applaud my Council Colleagues who pledged to support a minimum 222 units of homeless housing in their respective Districts to ensure they are built in communities across Los Angeles. We all bear the responsibility to help restore the lives and dignity of our homeless brothers and sisters."

I recently returned from a trip to El Salvador where I served as an International Observer for the Congressional elections. Many people in my District have deep roots here or personal connections, and therefore it was very important to me. To say the least, it was educational and truly eye-opening, and I wanted to share some of my experiences with you.

During the trip, I was proud to witness this 26-year old democracy undergo its March 2018 elections. It was exciting to see the level of involvement from the multiple parties and entire families exercising their civic duty. I was also better able to understand the repercussions that unjust U.S. immigration policies have on Salvadorans once they are deported. 

I visited the National Council for the Protection and Development of Migrants and their Families (ConMigrantes). This innovative institution in Central America, under the Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador Hugo Martinez, seeks to address the many compounded problems that deportees face while integrating them back to society.

What I saw and heard during the few hours that I was there was heart wrenching. Individuals still wearing construction clothing, chef, coats, or valet vests all apprehended and sent back to El Salvador. These articles of clothing representative of their pursuit of the American Dream. Seeing children as young as 11 returning from such a harrowing and traumatic journey was devastating. 

In essence, ConMigrantes is a welcome center that warmly embraces the lost and offers hope to the hopeless. They work to restore an individual’s dignity and worth as a human being by offering something as simple as a change of clothes. Here, individuals have access to showers, doctors and the opportunity to reunite with family, if they’re lucky enough to have any. 

I share this anecdote because it has reinvigorated my passion to continue fighting for immigrant families, our Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and any neighbor who feels under attack by the Trump Administration. As a Member of the City Council’s Committee on Immigrant Affairs, Civil Rights and Equity, I pledge to continue to do everything in my power to defend and keep our families together.

If you or someone you love has questions about immigration, please contact the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) satellite office inside my Constituent Service Center at (323) 846-1807 or via email at southla@chirla.org.

My sincerest thanks to the Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund for inviting me to be an International Observer. For more information on all of the wonderful things this nonprofit organization is doing locally, please visit www.salef.org.

Hundreds attended on Friday, Feb. 9 the Council District 9 Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) Job Fair at Exposition Park. The hiring event, which was spearheaded by my Office, was aimed at helping to connect local residents to more than 1,000 jobs coming to South Los Angeles as a result of this development. The $350 million, state-of-the-art Banc of California Soccer Stadium will make its official debut in April when the LAFC faces off against the Seattle Sounders.

This project has a 40 percent local hire agreement, and it is my biggest desire that our community make the most out of the increased employment opportunities coming to CD 9. I’m pleased to inform you that we had a number of people who were hired on the spot. It was extremely satisfying and rewarding to have witnessed how opportunities like this have the potential to change a person’s life. Congratulations to LAFC’s new employees, and I wish you all the best of luck on your journey!

To view photos from the day's event, please visit our Flickr page here. For information about employment, contact the Vernon-Central/LATTC WorkSource Center at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College at (213) 763-5951.

Earlier this week, I had the privilege to attend the groundbreaking for the $270 million Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum renovation. As president of the Coliseum Commission, my priority is to protect and preserve the Coliseum so the public can safely enjoy and appreciate this iconic facility for generations to come. I can honestly say this was a magnificent day for the City and all Angelenos—not to mention a vital step forward to a more dynamic 9th District.

Considered one of the sports world’s most beloved historical landmarks and home of the USC Trojans, the Coliseum will be restored with 21^st century amenities. The list of improvements include additional aisles, handrails, wider seats, more legroom, cup holders, updated Wi-Fi, concession expansion, along with updated electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. Audio and video systems also are being upgraded.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is the only venue in the world to have hosted two Olympiads, two Super Bowls and a World Series. But the story doesn’t end there. The iconic Coliseum will be home to both opening and closing ceremonies, as well as athletic events (track and field) for the 2028 Olympics. 

Sincerely,

Curren D. Price, Jr. 

*Click image above to view video* 

The Office of Councilmember Curren Price, in partnership with the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) and Los Angeles Sanitation (LASAN), will conduct our Monthly CD 9 Community Clean Up on Saturday, Jan. 27 at South Los Angeles Wetlands (5413 S. Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles 90011) from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tools, gloves, and lunch will be provided to our volunteers, along with community service hours. 

Join us in being part of the change we want to see in the New Ninth! Please see below for more details. 

The Office of Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr. invites you on Feb. 9 to the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) Job Fair for Residents in Council District 9. The special event will take place from 4-8 p.m. at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles 90037 (in the building west of the California African American Museum), and it is aimed at connecting local residents to hundreds of jobs. 

At the upcoming LAFC Job Fair for Residents of Council District 9, job seekers will have the opportunity to learn about part-time and full-time jobs that will be available. Open positions include Guest Experience Representatives, Safety Officer, Food Services, Housekeeping, and others. 

Don’t miss out on being a part Los Angeles’ history and the LAFC’s inaugural season!

Feria de Empleo del LAFC Busca Llenar Cientos de Puestos

The Trump administration’s announcement this morning to expel 260,000 Salvadorans who have lived and worked in the United States for more than a decade is unconscionable and heartless. There is no justification for this decision other than to push forward a heinous agenda that is inconsistent with American values and principles.

I am honored to represent a large number of Salvadoran families in Council District 9—many of whom will be negatively impacted by this announcement. This is one of the key reasons why my Office works hand in glove with partners like the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-LA). Because I wholeheartedly believe every hardworking, decent individual deserves a shot at the American Dream.